Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Perfume box manufacturing starts with the bottle: its dimensions and weight determine the type of board, the inner size of the box and the insert that will hold it still. Polkom manufactures perfume boxes in any board and any size – from 2–10 ml samples to 200 ml bottles – together with all the inner accessories that secure the bottle and the cap.
Perfume box manufacturing: which cardboard?
Choosing the board is the first technical decision. It affects strength, print quality and the feel when the customer picks the box up.
| Board type | Thickness / grammage | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Coated board (white, coated on one side) | 300–400 g/m² | Folding boxes for series perfumes and cosmetics, excellent print |
| Luxury white board (white on both sides) | 300–450 g/m² | Boxes where the inside is visible too; foil and embossing |
| Kraft board | 300–400 g/m² | Natural and eco brands, niche fragrances |
| Micro-flute corrugated board (E or F flute) | 1.1–1.8 mm | Heavy bottles and online sales – better protection in courier shipping |
| Grey board wrapped in paper | 1.5–3 mm | Rigid boxes – lid and base, magnetic book-style, drawer-style |
| Designer paper on a rigid base | texture, metallic, pearl, velvet-touch coating | Limited editions and gift sets |
For bottles up to about 50 ml in the mass market, coated board of around 350 g/m² is usually enough. For 100 ml glass bottles with a solid metal cap, we recommend thicker board, micro-flute or a rigid box, because the weight of the glass and metal puts strain on the bottom and the corners.
How the size of a perfume box is determined
Sizing a box "by eye" is the most common mistake. The size is calculated from the actual bottle with its cap fitted, not from catalogue data.
- Measure the bottle with the cap – height, width and depth at the widest points (shoulders, cap, decorative elements).
- Add a tolerance – for a folding box without an insert, usually 1–2 mm per side; for a box with an insert, the size is calculated together with the thickness of the insert.
- Allow for the height of the cap – tall polyester caps shaped like a stone or a sculpture are often wider than the bottle itself.
- Check on a sample – before series production, the bottle is placed in a blank (unprinted) or printed sample of the box.
Indicative inner dimensions
| Bottle volume | Typical inner size (W × D × H) | Recommended board |
|---|---|---|
| 2–10 ml (samples, testers) | 2–3 × 2–3 × 8–11 cm | Coated board 300 g/m² |
| 30 ml | 4–5 × 3–4 × 10–12 cm | Coated board 350 g/m² |
| 50 ml | 5–6 × 4–5 × 12–14 cm | Coated or luxury board 350–400 g/m² |
| 100 ml | 6–8 × 4–6 × 14–17 cm | Micro-flute or rigid box |
| Gift set | depending on the number of products | Rigid box with a shaped insert |
These values are indicative – bottle shapes vary a lot, and the final size is always confirmed on your bottle.
Inserts: the accessories that hold the bottle still
The insert is what turns a beautiful box into safe packaging. It secures the bottle, protects the cap and the spray pump and stops the glass from hitting the walls in transit.
Cardboard insert
Folded from the same or a thicker board, with a cut-out shaped to the bottle or its neck. It is economical, is recycled together with the box and is the most common choice for folding boxes.
EVA foam insert
Cut precisely to the contour of the bottle and the cap. It holds even heavy and unusual shapes firmly and is preferred for online sales and for gift sets with several products.
Fabric- or paper-covered insert
A foam or cardboard base covered with satin, velvet or designer paper. It gives a luxurious look on opening and is used in rigid boxes for niche fragrances.
Moulded pulp
A formed insert made of recycled paper – a good solution for brands that want plastic-free packaging.
Additional accessories
- Lifting ribbon under the bottle so it can be easily taken out of a tight insert.
- Dividers for sets – perfume, lotion and sample in one box.
- Magnetic closures, ribbons and handles for rigid and gift boxes.
- Clear window (PET) when the bottle needs to be visible on the shelf.
Finishes that make the box part of the brand
Perfume boxes most often combine hot foil stamping (gold, silver, holographic), embossing and debossing, matt or soft-touch lamination and spot UV varnish. The logo can be repeated on the bottle, the cap and the metal label, so that the whole packaging looks like one set.
What to send for a quote
- The bottle with its cap, or its exact dimensions and weight;
- Box type – folding or rigid – and the preferred board, if you have one;
- Insert type (cardboard, EVA, covered, pulp);
- Design or logo, number of colours and finishes;
- Quantity for each model.
Polkom – manufacturer of perfume boxes and accessories
Polkom manufactures perfume and cosmetics boxes in any board and any size, together with the inserts and accessories that hold the bottle still. With us you can also order caps, metal labels and packaging for your perfume in one place. Before production, we make a sample based on your bottle. Send an inquiry with the bottle dimensions and we will propose a suitable board, insert and finishes.
